Germaine Lawrence is a residential treatment center for girls ages 12-18 with complex behavioral, psychological and learning challenges. Girls live at our programs while receiving special education, individual, family and group therapy; psychiatric and primary medical care; and a wide variety of therapeutic activities and interventions. read more >>

Rochelle is a Consultant working with a variety of private organizations to become accredited. Her primary area of expertise is in facilitating the development of PQI systems and activities. Her previous experience with both small and large organizations is the cornerstone for her long-standing volunteer activities as a Peer reviewer and as a Team Leader.read more>>

Your Input is Essential

COA’s Standards undergo review and comment by hundreds of professionals while they are posted on the COA website during a Field Comment period. The feedback and commentary shared through draft standard reviews is essential to creating standards that reflect current trends, best practice principles and continuous quality improvement. In addition, the input and guidance received provides the diverse perspectives necessary to develop rigorous yet practical standards.

Please take a moment to review COA’s Standards currently undergoing field comment or note those that are upcoming to ensure you have the opportunity to share your invaluable perspective. We look forward to receiving your feedback!

Current Field Comment

Adult Foster Care Service Standards for Private, Public and Canadian Organizations

Deadline to Submit: Friday, October 20, 2017

In an effort to better fit our standards to the multitude of programs organizations we accredit offer, COA has developed a set of standards for Adult Foster Care (AFC) programs. The new AFC service standards will apply to organizations who provide community-based care for adults in need of long-term services and supports and assistance in their everyday functioning. Pulling from seminal literature and a panel of experts, we have created a standards that promote the individual’s voice and choice, support caregivers, and encourage community integration. Now we need your feedback! Below are instructions as to how to best submit feedback. This is such a crucial step in the standards development process and your voice is instrumental to marrying the best practices with the realistic practices in the field. Below are the instructions how you can provide feedback!

How to Submit Your Feedback

1)Follow the links below to download a draft of the standards.

2) Provide your feedback by downloading the draft of the standards and using tracked changes to comment directly in the comments and then send the draft back to Isabelle Leventhal, and/or send Isabelle an email with a summary of your concerns/questions/comments, and/or submit feedback via this handy dandy survey!

There’s no right or wrong way to submit feedback (the only wrong way would be to not), so feel free to use any of the routes suggested! If you have any further questions, feel free to reach out! You can reach me at ileventhal@coanet.org or even call me at 212.797.3000 ext. 296.

Updated Standards for After School and Youth Development Programs

Deadline to Submit: Friday, October 13, 2017

In an effort to accommodate a wider range of programs and better reflect current practice in the field, COA has updated the accreditation standards for after school and youth development programs. Through an extensive literature review and partnership with a panel of experts, we have endeavored to both streamline and strengthen the standards. Highlights include new or enhanced content related to:

COA welcomes all stakeholders who have experience working with after school and youth development programs to comment on the draft standards. The feedback collected during field comment will enable us to further strengthen the standards, and to better support programs in their efforts to help children learn and thrive. All comments provided will be taken into consideration.